Teenage sex, a headache for parents

With an increasing number of youngsters feeling compelled to 'do it' just to fit in with their friends and peers, teenage sex is a growing problem. Rachel Fernandes tells you more.

With an increasing number of youngsters feeling compelled to 'do it' just to fit in with their friends and peers, teenage sex is a growing problem. Rachel Fernandes tells you more

Peer pressure is nothing new. It's every parent's worst nightmare, especially when their child falls prey to vices like alcohol, drugs and smoking. These days, however, an increasing number of youngsters in their early teens, both girls and boys, are falling prey to the pressure of becoming sexually active from a very young age, even as early as 12 years. What was once considered a Western world problem is today very much a growing reality of our Indian society too. MMS scandals involving school and college students are unfortunately becoming regular occurances hogging news and cyber space.

Neesha Raut, mother of 15-year-old Dhruv is a worried parent. Why? Because Dhruv and his girlfriend often shut the door of his room and hang out. "Though I know for a fact that they are always watching movies or playing video games, I can't help but get apprehensive. On the other hand, I also can't tell him not to shut the door as it is his own room and we all advocate the right to privacy in the house," she laments.

Though it can mostly be blamed on the pressure from friends, peers and acquaintances in the same age group and the need to fit into a stereotype, the increased exposure to sexually explicit material - TV, Internet, and other forms of media that teenagers access is also a growing cause for concern. "There's also the society's rather relaxed attitude about sex to be blamed. I often see parents and adults making references about boyfriends and girlfriends to kids as young as primary students. As a result, the child gets mixed signals that it's okay to pursue this path. Also, they see a very casual and lax attitude towards sex in the home. All this results in them wanting to try things out for themselves," says noted educationist Swati Popat Vats.